Crib with drop side, and guiding and locking mechanism therefor

Abstract

A crib having a drop side that vertically slides between lowered and raised positions includes a guiding and locking mechanism for the drop side, comprising a pair of lower guides and a pair of upper guides affixed to the crib's corner posts, and a plurality of slides affixed to the drop side and slidably engaging the guides. Each guide comprises a plate-shaped guide member and each slide defines a channel in which the guide member is slidably received. One edge of each lower guide member has a recess formed therein, and a resilient locking member integrally formed with the guide is positioned opposite the recess and urges the slide into the recess to lock the drop side in the raised position. Each lower guide also includes a second, lower recess into which the slides are urged by a second, lower resilient locking member for locking the drop side in a lowered position.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A crib, comprising: 
       a rear panel connected between a pair of vertical rear corner posts, a front panel comprising a drop side connected between a pair of vertical front corner posts, and a pair of end panels connected between the front and rear corner posts to form a rectangular structure;  
       at least one guide affixed to each of the front corner posts adjacent opposite ends of the drop side, each guide defining a vertically extending guide track; and  
       a pair of slides affixed to opposite ends of the drop side and respectively in sliding engagement with the guide tracks of the guides, whereby the drop side is vertically slidable along the guides between raised and lowered positions;  
       wherein the guide track of each guide is formed by a pair of vertically extending, spaced guide surfaces respectively facing generally toward and away from the rear panel, one of the guide surfaces having an upper recess that is recessed into said guide surface in a horizontal direction, and each of the guides defining a stop surface facing generally upwardly and located adjacent a lower end of the upper recess, each guide further comprising a resilient upper locking member affixed thereto opposite the upper recess and arranged to contact and urge the corresponding slide into the upper recess when the drop side is slid upward to the raised position such that the drop side is prevented by the stop surface from sliding back down to the lowered position, the slide being disengageable from the upper recess by urging the drop side in a direction generally normal thereto so as to urge the slide against the upper locking member to deflect the upper-locking member until the slide clears the stop surface such that the drop side can be dropped to the lowered position.  
     
     
       2. The crib of  claim 1 , wherein each front corner post has an upper guide and a lower guide affixed thereto, and the drop side includes an upper slide and a lower slide affixed at each end of the drop side and in sliding engagement with the upper and lower guides, and wherein each lower guide includes the recess for locking the drop side in the raised position. 
     
     
       3. The crib of  claim 2 , wherein a retaining portion of each lower guide projects upward from adjacent the lower end of the upper recess and forms a slot between the retaining portion and an opposing portion of the lower guide such that the lower slides cannot be disengaged from the upper recesses until the lower slides are lifted over the retaining portions, whereby the drop side must be both lifted and urged in the direction generally normal to the drop side in order to be dropped to the lowered position. 
     
     
       4. The crib of  claim 2 , wherein each lower guide and corresponding upper locking member are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       5. The crib of  claim 2 , each lower guide further comprising a lower recess in one of the guide surfaces and spaced below the upper recess, and a resilient lower locking member affixed to the lower guide for urging the lower slide into the lower recess when the drop side is dropped to the lowered position, each lower guide defining a downward-facing stop surface adjacent an upper end of the lower recess for preventing the lower slide from being slid back up along the guide track as long as the lower slide is in the lower recess, whereby the drop side is locked in the lowered position. 
     
     
       6. The crib of  claim 5 , wherein each lower guide and the upper and lower locking members thereof are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       7. The crib of  claim 5 , wherein the lower locking member of each lower guide is structured and arranged to apply a continuous biasing force on the corresponding lower slide when disposed in the lower recess, so as to substantially reduce rattling of the lower slides when the drop side is locked in the lowered position. 
     
     
       8. A guiding and locking mechanism for a drop side of a crib, comprising: 
       a guide configured to be affixed to a vertical corner post of the crib, the guide defining a vertically extending guide track formed by a pair of vertically extending, spaced guide surfaces respectively facing generally inwardly and generally outwardly with respect to a horizontal direction, one of the guide surfaces having an upper recess that is recessed into the guide surface in the horizontal direction, and the guide defining a stop surface facing generally upwardly and located adjacent a lower end of the upper recess;  
       a slide in sliding engagement with the guide track and configured to be affixed to the drop side of the crib, the slide being structured and arranged such that a portion of the slide is free to move into the upper recess in the one guide surface when the slide is slid upward to the upper recess such that the portion of the slide is above the stop surface of the guide; and  
       a resilient upper locking member affixed to the guide opposite the upper recess and arranged to contact and urge the slide into the upper recess such that the slide is prevented by the stop surface from sliding back down along the guide track, the slide being disengageable from the upper recess by urging the slide against the upper locking member to deflect the upper locking member until the slide clears the stop surface such that the slide can be slid back down along the guide track.  
     
     
       9. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the guide and upper locking member are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       10. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein the guide comprises a guide member having opposite side edges defining the guide surfaces of the guide track, and the slide defines a channel into which the guide member is slidably received. 
     
     
       11. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the guide has a generally T-shaped cross-section normal to a longitudinal axis thereof, a wider portion of the T-shaped cross-section forming a guide member having opposite edges that define the guide surfaces, and a narrower portion of the T-shaped cross-section being arranged to abut the corner post of the crib so as to space the guide member away from the corner post. 
     
     
       12. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein the upper locking member is arcuate having a lower portion spaced relatively farther from the recess of the guide surface and a middle portion spaced relatively closer to the recess. 
     
     
       13. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 12 , wherein the middle portion of the upper locking member, in an undeflected position thereof, projects into the recess. 
     
     
       14. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein a retaining portion of the guide projects upward from adjacent the lower end of the upper recess and forms a slot between the retaining portion and an opposing portion of the guide such that the slide cannot be disengaged from the upper recess until the slide is lifted over the retaining portion. 
     
     
       15. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 8 , the guide further comprising a lower recess in one of the guide surfaces and spaced below the upper recess, and a resilient lower locking member affixed to the guide for urging the slide into the lower recess, the guide defining a downward-facing stop surface adjacent an upper end of the lower recess for preventing the slide from being slid back up along the guide track as long as the slide is in the lower recess. 
     
     
       16. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the guide and the upper and lower locking members are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       17. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the lower locking member is structured and arranged to apply a continuous biasing force on the slide when disposed in the lower recess so as to substantially reduce rattling of the slide in the horizontal direction. 
     
     
       18. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 15 , wherein the guide comprises a guide member having opposite side edges defining the guide surfaces of the guide track, and the slide defines a channel into which the guide member is slidably received between opposing surfaces of the channel, and wherein the lower locking member is disposed generally between the opposing surfaces of the channel in the slide. 
     
     
       19. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 18 , wherein the guide member is generally plate-shaped, and the guide includes a spacer joined to and extending lengthwise along one surface of the guide member for spacing the guide member from the corner post of the crib, the lower locking member being affixed to the spacer. 
     
     
       20. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the guide member, spacer, and lower locking member are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       21. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 19 , wherein the slide includes a pair of opposed fingers that extend from the opposing surfaces of the channel toward each other to capture the guide member in the channel, and wherein the lower locking member contacts one of the fingers when the slide is slid down to the lower end of the guide so as to urge the slide into the lower recess. 
     
     
       22. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 21 , wherein the other of the fingers and the downward-facing stop surface of the guide cooperate to prevent upward movement of the slide as long as the slide is in the lower recess. 
     
     
       23. A guiding and locking mechanism for a drop side of a crib, comprising: 
       a guide configured to be affixed to a vertical corner post of the crib, the guide defining a vertically extending guide track formed by a pair of vertically extending, spaced guide surfaces respectively facing generally inwardly and generally outwardly with respect to a horizontal direction, one of the guide surfaces having an upper recess that is recessed into the guide surface in the horizontal direction, one of the guide surfaces having a lower recess that is recessed into the guide surface in the horizontal direction and spaced below the upper recess, and the guide defining an upper stop surface located adjacent a lower end of the upper recess and a lower stop surface located adjacent an upper end of the lower recess;  
       a slide in sliding engagement with the guide track and configured to be affixed to the drop side of the crib, the slide being structured and arranged such that a portion of the slide is free to move into the upper recess when the slide is slid upward to the upper recess such that the portion of the slide is above the upper stop surface of the guide, and the slide being arranged such that a portion of the slide is free to move into the lower recess when the slide is slid downward to the lower recess such that the portion of the slide is below the lower stop surface of the guide; and  
       a resilient upper locking member affixed to the guide opposite the upper recess and arranged to contact and urge the slide into the upper recess such that the slide is prevented by the upper stop surface from sliding back down along the guide track, and a resilient lower locking member affixed to the guide and arranged to contact and urge the slide into the lower recess such that the slide is prevented by the lower stop surface from sliding back up the guide, the slide being disengageable from each recess by urging the slide against the corresponding locking member to deflect said locking member until the slide clears the corresponding stop surface such that the slide can be slid along the guide track.  
     
     
       24. The guiding and locking mechanism of  claim 23 , wherein the guide and the upper and lower locking members are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       25. A guiding and locking assembly for a drop side of a crib, comprising: 
       a pair of guides configured to be affixed to a pair of spaced corner posts adjacent opposite ends of the drop side; and  
       a slide in sliding engagement with the guide track of each guide and configured to be affixed to an adjacent end of the drop side;  
       wherein the guide track of each guide is formed by a pair of vertically extending, spaced guide surfaces respectively facing generally inwardly and generally outwardly with respect to a horizontal direction, one of the guide surfaces having an upper recess that is recessed in the horizontal direction, and the guide defining a stop surface facing generally upwardly and located adjacent a lower end of the upper recess, each guide further comprising a resilient upper locking member affixed to the guide opposite the upper recess and arranged to contact and urge the slide into the upper recess such that the slide is prevented by the stop surface from sliding back down along the guide track, the slide being disengageable from the upper recess by urging the slide against the upper locking member to deflect the upper locking member until the slide clears the stop surface such that the slide can be slid back down along the guide track.  
     
     
       26. The guiding and locking assembly of  claim 25 , wherein each guide and corresponding upper locking member are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       27. The guiding and locking assembly of  claim 25 , wherein each guide has a generally T-shaped cross-section normal to a longitudinal axis thereof, a wider portion of the T-shaped cross-section forming a guide member having opposite edges that define the guide surfaces, and a narrower portion of the T-shaped cross-section being arranged to abut the corner post of the crib so as to space the guide member away from the corner post. 
     
     
       28. The guiding and locking assembly of  claim 25 , wherein a retaining portion of each guide projects upward from adjacent the lower end of the upper recess and forms a slot between the retaining portion and an opposing portion of the guide such that the slide cannot be disengaged from the upper recess until the slide is lifted over the retaining portion. 
     
     
       29. The guiding and locking assembly of  claim 25 , each guide further comprising a lower recess in one of the guide surfaces proximate a lower end of the guide, and a resilient lower locking member affixed to the guide for urging the slide into the lower recess, the guide defining a downward-facing stop surface adjacent an upper end of the lower recess for preventing the slide from being slid back up along the guide track as long as the slide is in the lower recess. 
     
     
       30. The guiding and locking assembly of  claim 29 , wherein each guide and the upper and lower locking members thereof are integrally formed together as a one-piece structure. 
     
     
       31. The guiding and locking assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the lower locking member of each guide is structured and arranged to apply a continuous biasing force on the corresponding slide when disposed in the lower recess so as to substantially reduce rattling of the slide on the guide in the horizontal direction.